Electrotherapeutic apparatus



- Sept. 10, 1929. J. H. T. ROBERTS 1,723,080

ELECTROTHERAIIEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Febv 24, 1928 WHY/V7? J.H. 7'. 30 m,

Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH HARRISON THOMSON ROBERTS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Application filed February 24:, 1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to electro-therapeutic apparatus and hasreference to apparatus of the kind exemplified by the socalledviolet-ray sets which usually include some means for the generation ofhigh-frequency high-tension electric current and usually make use of asuitably exhausted hollowglass electrode or applicator for applying theelectricity to the affected part. Such apparatus is popularly (althoughnot strictly correctly) called violet-ray apparatus and is sometimes,and more correctly, referred to as high-frequency apparatus.

As already mentioned, in apparatus ofthis kind it is customary to employsuitablyexhausted glass-tube electrodes. These electrodes take variousforms, some of the commonest forms being surface or simple bulblike ortubular electrodes, combs, rakes and so on. In the case of the comb, theelectrode is usually made in the form of a straight glass tube fromwhich project at right-angles, and at distances of perhaps half-an-inch,a series of short glass side-pieces resemblingrthe individual teeth of acomb. 1 v

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a new apparatusof the kind referred to, such apparatus taking the form of anelectro-therapeutic hair brush.

In certain constructional details, hair brushes in accordance with thepresent invention may comprise features that are common to electricalhair brushes of known form as, for example, in the use of bare orpartlyinsulated metal bristles and a convex rubber mounting therefor,but a characteristic ofthe present invention is the use ofhigh-frequency high-tension current as distinct from lowfrequencyhigh-tension current (such,for example, as produced from a battery withinterrupter and induction coil) this fundamental distinction beingexemplified by the necessity of providing for a complete circuit for thelow-frequency current of prior constructions whereas the high-frequencycurrent or electrical discharge used according to my invention requiresno special provision of that kind.

The electro-therapeutic hair brush according to the present inventioncomprises br1s- 256,624, and in Great Britain March 8, 192?.

tles or their equivalent as hereinafter described, an electric dischargetubeymeans whereby high-frequency high-tension electric current isconveyechpreferably through the handle, to the back of the brush andmeans whereby this current is caused to spread an electro-therapeuticdischarge over substantially theentire' bristlearea of the brush. v 5

The electro-therapeutic"elfect may take place merely by distributedproximity of the applicator to the bristles (and the head of the user)or by electrical conductivity from the applicator thereto and in thelatter case the bristles may advantageously take the form of metal pinscarriedby a rubber or other resilient sheet rendered superficiallyconducting as between all the pins by a metal sheet or coatingasliereinafter more fully described with reference to the preferredconstructional embodiment of the invention.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect,

- I will now describe the same more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which I I i Figure 1 is a plan or face view ofthe main portion or body of an electro-therapeutic hair brush inaccordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view ofthe same.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the brush, thebristles in this form being constituted byprong-like extensions on abranched applicator. I

Figure i is a sectional elevation of a complete, outfit including thebrush proper in its preferred constructional form.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view corresponding with Figure 4 butshowing also insulating covering which may beused upon the wholeor theends of the bristles.

The bristles? of a brush in accordance with the present invention may bebristles as t ordinarily understood or bristles in theform of rigid pinsor partially exhausted prongs electro-therapeutic discharge may bemounted or inserted upon or within the back of the brush in anyconvenient manner.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is mounted withinthe brush back or case 1 an applicator 2 suitably branched to carry theelectricity substantially over the surface of the part of the brush inwhich the roots of the bristles 3 are embedded. The portion or shank 4of the applicator passes through a hole in the neck of the brush andterminates in a hollow metal cap or connector 5 for insertion in anapplicator handle as seen in Figure 4. In this form of the brush, thebristles are preferably of comparatively shortlength so that when thebrush is applied to the head, the high frequency branched applicatortube comes into fairly close proximity to the skin.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the hair brush, the bristles inthis case being constituedby short glass tubes in prong-like formationon the branches of an applicator tube mounted in a brush baclc Themounting of the applicator tube in this construction is preferablyresilient, as for example by being composed of a rubber pad in which thetube is partly buried or to which it is attached, so that when the prons are pressed against the head of the user they are sufficiently yielding tocause no discomfort or inconvenience.

The prongs themselves may if desired be tipped or enveloped ininsulatingmaterial such for example as rubber or ebonite.

Referring now to Figures t and 5, the reference numeral 6 represents anapplicator handle and the numeral? represents a generator ofhigh-frequencyhigh-tension current end ,8 of the generator being adaptedfor insertion in an electric lamp socket. If desired the elements 7 and6 may be united into a single structure.

The applicator 2 is a nearly exhausted tube, preferably of glass,terminating at one end in the metal plug 5 for insertion in the handle 6and is removably secured by screwing or otherwise, or permanentlysecured, by cement or other suitable material, in a hole in the neck ofa hair brush-back carrying numerous bristles 10. The purpose of thenearly-exhausted glass discharge tube applicator is partly to enable thedischarge to be visible and so to conform to established public taste inthe matter of high-frequency apparatus and partly, by reason of itselectrical resistance and the electrical condenser effect which isobtained, to modify or tone down the nature of the electro-therapeuticeffect obtained between the brush and the head. It

may be observed here that the high-frequency high-tension current fromthe generator 7 has a path of entry to the brush byway of the applicator2 but has no return or exit path,

such as would be absolutely essential if lowfrequency electricity werebeingemployed.

It may be explained at this point that the basis upon which thetherapeutic value and possibilities of high-frequency electricity arefounded is as follows :If alternating (or intermittent)electric currentis applied to the human body at low frequency (up to a few hundreds persecond) the sensation (if a sufficiently high voltage to pass anyappreciable currentthrough the high resistance of the body is used) isvery unpleasant or extremely painful. Consequently it is possible toapply only limited voltages so as to limit the amount of current passingthrough the body. This is the basis ofordinary so-called medicalelectricity as supplied by a medical or shocking coil (which consists,in principle, of a step-up transformer excited by means of a vibratoryor other interrupte in the primary circuit).

It was discovered some years ago, however,

that if the alternations of'the current are of an extremely highfrequency (of the order which would be lmown to-day as radio frequency)quite an appreciable current may be passed through the human body (thatis, quite a high voltage may be applied to drive the current) withlittle or no sensation, at least without the convulsive and painfulsensations which are caused by any considerable amount of current passedat low-frequency. In fact, the sensation due to high-frequency current,if any sensation at all, amounts to a slight and pleasant tinglingsensation. Upon this important physiological discovery has been basedthe whole scienceof high-frequency (or so-called violet ray) therapeuticI treatment, and the various high-frequency from ordinary electriclighting current, one

(so-called violet ray) devices on the market to-dayare almost invariablybased upon the principle of the oscillatory and high-frequency dischargeof an electrical condenser incorporated therein.

Electric hairbrushes which have hitherto been brought forward have allbeen adapted, andcontemplated to be used with low-frequencyhigh-tension'current (or with direct current, which may be regarded ascurrent of zero frequency) and as only limited voltages can be used withsuch current (for the reasons explained above) these voltages have notbeen high, enough to produce what may properly be called an electricdischarge (including corona discharge,brush dischar e and the varioustypes of discharge commonly associated with the electricity produced bythe old-fashioned electric influence machines). Consequently theelectricity which can safely and comfortably be used with devices ofprevious types is not of sufficiently high voltage to jump across anairgap and can only flow when the electric hairbrush is in actualcontact with the body or head and also when there is a return pathprovided to complete the circuit.

Now the important and fundamental differences between low-frequencyelectricity, as hitherto used, and high-frequency electricity as usedfor electric hair brushes according to the present invention can bereadily appreciated. \Vith high-frequency electricity the voltage usedmay be very much higher than that of low-frequency electricity and thehigh-frequency electricity discharges itself, in the manner of a brushdischarge or otherwise, to any adjacent object, thus finding its way toearth without the necessity for any definite return path being provided.

A further important and characteristic feature of high-frequencyelectricity is that it is especially able to transfer its energy throughor across substances which are ordinarily nonconductors. This explainswhy, in the present invention, the highfrequency electricity may beconducted through a nearly evacuated glass tube. The conductor in thiscase consists of the rarefied gas inside the tube and the energy istransferred across the insulating glass wall, between the conducting gasinside and any conductor which is placed outside, by means of acondenser action, the glass acting as the di-electric; a feature of thiskind, if used with previous electric hairbrushes (that is, withlow-frequency electricity) would for practical purposes prevent anytransference of electrical energy through or across the insulator.

The bristles 10 are all connected together electrically so that thehigh-frequency electricity may have access to them all. This electricalconnection may be effected by making the back of the brush of metal orby providing a metal sheet therein so that normally, or at least whenthe brush is pressed against the head, the roots of the bristles makesufficient contact with the metal sheet. Alternatively and in thepreferred form as shown in Figures 4t and 5, the bristles are insertedfrom the back through the front of a convex sheet of rubber 9 whereofthe front or back or the front and back is or are coated or faced(before or after being furnished with bristles) with metal paint ormetal foil or the like conducting material indicated at 11 and 12respectively in Figure 5, the appli cator making contact at its tip withthe metal paint or other conducting material. The convexity of therubber 9 imparts an added resiliency to the bristles. The bristlesthemselves may be composed of any suitable mate rial; they may forexample be composed of metal which may be left bare or be tipped orenveloped with rubber, ebonite, glass or other insulating material.

The conductive layer or coating on the rubber sheet in so far as thefront face of the rubber is concerned may be chosen to add to theattractiveness of the brush and with this object in view the coating mayfor example consist of gold paint or silver paint or bronze powder ortin foil faced if desired with varin design or re-arranged in nish orcelluloid or the like. i The reference numeral 13 (Figs. 1 and 3)indicates an inspection hole through which the user can see when theelectric discharge is operating, by

observing the purplish glow in the applica-;

tor tube.

The term hair brush as used herein and in the appended claims is to beconstrued as a brush similar to a hair brush whether or not it isactually used for brushing the head or hair or for electric massage ortherapeutic treatment of any other part ofthe body.

Similarly the term bristles is to be construed as meaning ordinarybristles or the equivalent of ordinarybrlstles as hereinbeforedescribed.

In the accompanying drawings the electrotl'ierapeutic hair brush isshown adapted to be inserted in a well-known manner into'a portion ofthe conventional high-frequency generating apparatus. It will beunderstood, however, that the high-frequency generating apparatus '(orsome portion of it as shown in Figures 4) may be permanentlyincorporated or combined with the hair brush. In

this case the back of the brush may be provided with a suitable cover orhousing in which the high-frequency generating appaquency high-tensioncurrent, a violet-ray applicator of the electricalresistance andcondenser type, a handle therefor in electrical connection with saidgenerator, a brush back on the other end of said applicator, andbristles in electrical condition with said applicator. a

2. An electro-therapeutic hairbrushing outfit comprissing a generator ofhigh-frequency high-tension current, a violet-ray applicatorof theelectrical resistance and condenser type, a handle therefor inelectrical connection with said generator, a brush back on the other endof said applicator, brush bristles, a resilient sheet of materialcarrying said bristles and carried by the brush back, and means forconveying the high frequency current to saidbristles collectively.

8. An eleetro-therapeutic hairbrushing outfit comprising a generator ofhigh-frequency high-tension current, a violet-ray applicator oftheelectrical resistance and condenser type, a handle therefor inelectrical connection with said generator, :1 brush back on the otherend of said applicator, metal pin-like bristles, aconvex rubberpadcarrying said bristles and carried by the brush back, and aconductingshcet of material in hairbrushing 'llO contact with saidapplicator and with said bristles. i

4. An electro-therapeuticbrush comprisingra partially exhausted glasstube applicator of the electrical resistance and con denser type, ametal cap at one end thereof insertable in a violet-ray applicatorhandle, a brush back secured to the other end of said applicator tube,bristles carried by said brush back, and means for causinghigh-frequency high-tension current entering by way of said tube toelectrically discharge over substantially the entire bristle area ofsaid brush.

5.An electro-therapeutic brush comprising a partially exhausted glasstube applicator of the electrical resistance and condenser type, a metalcap at one end thereof insertable in a violet-ray applicator handle, abrush back secured to the other end of said applicator tube, a resilientrubber pad carried by I said back, metal bristles mounted in said pad,and an electrically conducting sheet on said pad electrically connectingthe bristles with one another, the tip of the applicator tube being inelectrical connection with said conducting sheet. p 6. Anelectro-therapeutic brush comprising a partially exhausted glass tubeapplicator of the electrical resistance and condenser type, a metal capat one end thereof insertable in a violet-ray applicator handle, a brushsecured back to the other end of said applicator tube, a resilientrubber pad carried by said back, metal bristles mounted in said pad anda coating of metallic paint on said pad, the applicator being inelectrical contact with said coating. r

7. An electro-therapeutic'hair brush comprising bristles or theirequivalent, an

electric resistance and condenser applicator device wherebyhigh-frequency high-tension electric current is conveyed to the back ofthe brush and means whereby this current is caused to spread anelectro-therapeutic discharge oVer substantially the entire bristle areaof the brush.

8. An electro-therapeutic hair brush outfit comprising a generator ofhigh frequency high tension'electric current, a brush handle inelectrical connection with said generator, a brush back, a so-calledViolet ray applicator device of the glass tubular partially eX- haustedelectric resistance and condenser type embodied in the brush back, ametal cap on one end of said tube insertable in said handle,

a rubber pad carried in said brush back, metal bristles mounted in saidpad, and an electrically conducting coating on said pad to electricallyconnect said bristles, said coating being electrically connected to theapplicator tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH HARRISON THOMSON ROBERTS.

